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| Mitreola quanruii L.Wu & R.C.Hu, in Hu, Liao, Luo, Liu, Nong et Wu, 2023. |
Abstract
Mitreola quanruii, a new species from Guangxi, China, is described and illustrated in this study. It is morphologically similar to M. liuyanii because of the terete stems, creeping and branched at the base, the leaves which are pilose on both surfaces and the bilobed capsules with two erect horns. The new species can be distinguished from M. liuyanii by its taller habit, up to 20–50 cm tall, its linear leaves, 4–18 × 0.3–1 cm with acuminate apex and 8–10 pairs of lateral veins, its narrowly triangular stipules, its linear bracts, ca. 1.0 cm long and glabrous and its glabrous calyx. Mitreola quanruii is temporarily assessed as data deficient (DD) according to IUCN. The habitat of Mitreola quanruii is extremely fragile. Therefore, this species deserves close attention and protection.
Key words: China, Loganiaceae, Mitreola, new taxon, taxonomy
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| Mitreola quanruii L.Wu & R.C.Hu. A flowering branch B stipule C top view of flower D longitudinally opened corolla showing the position of the stamens and the hair ring in the throat E ovary, calyx, style and stigma F lateral view of fruit. |
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| Mitreola quanruii L.Wu & R.C.Hu. A habitat B habit C inflorescence D fruiting branch E leaves F lateral view of flower G lateral view of fruit. |
Mitreola quanruii L.Wu & R.C.Hu, sp. nov.
Diagnosis: Mitreola quanruii is most similar to M. liuyanii, but can be distinguished from the latter by its larger plant height up to 20–50 cm tall (vs. up to 9 cm), its linear leaves, 4–18 × 0.3–1 cm (vs. leaves oblanceolate, 0.4–5.6 × 0.2–1 cm) with acuminate apex (vs. apex acute to rounded) and 8–10 lateral veins on each side of the mid-rib (vs. 4–6 pairs), its narrowly triangular stipules (vs. stipules linear), its linear bracts, ca. 1.0 cm long and glabrous (vs. bracts narrowly lanceolate, 2–3 mm long, sparsely pilose on abaxial surface) and its glabrous calyx (vs. abaxial surface of calyx sparsely pilose).
Etymology: We dedicate this new species of Mitreola to Prof. Quanru Liu for his substantial contributions to botanical research and education in China.
Vernacular name: The Chinese name is proposed as xiàn yè Dù Liáng Cǎo (线叶度量草), which means that the leaves are linear.
Renchuan Hu, Xiaowen Liao, Binsheng Luo, Cheng Liu, You Nong and Lei Wu. 2023. Mitreola quanruii (Loganiaceae), A New Species from A Karst Region in Guangxi, China. PhytoKeys. 232: 167-75. DOI: 10.3897/phytokeys.232.108986
